70 IRISH ROOM CULTURE, 



about twenty-two inches high, and as much in diameter, 

 and are covered with bilver sand and a sort of white 

 putty-like clay in about equal proportions. Running along 

 in parallel lines., and disappearing from view in the dark- 

 ness,, one knows not what to compare them to, unless it 

 be to barked pine trees in the hold of a ship. 



Everywhere on the surface of these little beds small 

 mushrooms were peering forth in quantity ; as the beds 

 are regularly gathered from every day, no very large ones 

 are seen. They are preferred when about the size of a 

 chestnut, and are removed root and branch, a small portion 

 of finely sifted earth being placed in each hole, so as to 

 level the bed as in the caves at Montrouge. If the old 

 superstition that a mushroom never grows after being seen 

 by human eyes were true, the trade of a champignonniste 

 would never answer here, as the little budding individuals 

 come within view every day during the gathering and 

 earthing operations. The most perfect cleanliness is 

 observed everywhere in the neighbourhood of these beds, 

 and the whole surface of each avenue is covered by them, 

 leaving passages of ten inches or a foot between the 

 beds. At the time of my visit (Sept. 29, 1868) the crops 

 of the cultivator were reduced ^ to their lowest ebb, and 

 yet about 400 Ibs. per day were sent to market. The 

 average daily quantity from this cave is about 880 Ibs., 

 and sometimes that is nearly doubled. 



In some parts of the cave the work of ripping out the 



